BALCLUTHA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1030, 20 April 1894, Page 5

BALCLUTHA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

«. The monthly meeting of the above council was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. There were present — The mayor (Mr John M'Corley) Messrs P. Mason, J. W, Wilson, J. Dunne, P. Bell, G. W. I .itchins J. Bremner, J. Wilkins, and D. T. Fleming, Mr John Paterson applied to have his name plpoed on the roll in respect of section 3, block X. — Grant rcl. Mr G. W. Draper, Eatanui, wrote asking for information in regard to the powers and duties of cemetery trrstees. — Clerk to supply all available information. The following accounts were presented for payment : — G. Thomson L 3 fls 3d ; John Low L 5 ; Clutha Leader L 5 ; E. Grigor L 2 2s ; D. Eeddie L 8 Is ; "Wisp Caffin aud Co. (library account) L 22 14s 3d. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr D. T. Fleming seconded by Mr J. "W. "Wilson, that the accounts read be passed for payment i with the exception of Wise Caffin and Co.'s. which be referred to the l'brary committee with the recommendation that in future the committee should curtail their expenditure in respect of magazines, and that their attention be directed to the fact that the libiary account is at present indebted to the borough fund account to the extent of L23'odd; 'and that in future al! accounts for sundries be ordered only on the written order of the mayor. — It was pointed out that the clerk had an order book for the purpose. ; Mr Dunne remarked that these order forms /should be attached to the accounts when /they were rendered, and that no account should be recognised unless the order forms are attached. Mr D. T. Flpming, on behalf of the fmnilce committee reported that the committee had not had a formal meeting being unable to get a quorum. However, Mr Hutchins and lie had looked into the matter of the finances, and, with a view of the council having a free hand in the matter at next meeting when the finance committee's report would be • before them, had decided to recommend that all servants, exeept'ng the Town Clerk, of the council get a month's notice to terminate I tlieir engagements. Mr J. W. Wilson moved that the suggestion be adopted. Curtailment of the council's expenditure was necessary. Of course, aJI the servants might not be dispensed with; the intent ; on was only to give the council a free hand in the matter, and to let the finance committee be untrammelled in 'bringing up their report and recommendations. Mr Mason seconded the motion. He was sorry that the step was rendered necessary. Mr Dunne endorsed what had been said, Mr Wilkins was of opinion that the poundkeeper and ranger could not be dispensed with. The Mayor said the council would have to stop all works. With an indebtedness of about L2OOO the council would have to keep down expenses in every way. The motion was carried. Mr Dunne drew attention to the new street being clone by the railway authorities, and complained that it was only 14ft wide. The Mayor said he had spoken to the authorities about it, who said he should not look at unfinished work. Mr Wilson said he had seen the dayman at work on that street with a team. He understood the railway people were to complete the whole job. The Mayor said the work where the dayman was at work was outside that of railway authorities, but that they had supplied the necessary pipes. Mr Mason said that Mr Hutchins and he, representing the works committee, had seen the engineer, who agreed to metal the street the same width as Barr street adjoining, to put*n Bin of metal and Sin of gravel on top. The Mayor remarked that the metal on the old street was only 12ft wide. Mr Hutchins endorsed what Mr Mason had said. Barr street wns only 14ft wide metal. Mr Fleming thought it would be advisable since they got the the pipes for nothing -to put them right across the new street at its ; junction with Barr street. The Mayor said it would make a much better job, and he would see what could be i done.